To legitimize the rising public spending on elite sport, governments and political stakeholders frequently refer to the potential beneficial effects of elite sport for society. A frequently given argument centers on the idea that elite sport has a demonstration effect, inspiring people in terms of their participation in physical activity and sport, so that financial support for elite sport will ultimately also reach the grass-roots level. In this systematic umbrella review, we summarize the findings from previous reviews on the actual impact of elite sport on three, partially overlapping dimensions of participation: physical activity, sport, and voluntary work. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 Guidelines, we searched four electronic databases (APA PsycINFO, PubMed/Medline, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science), complemented by a reference and citation screening. Two independent reviewers screened all identified studies for eligibility. Of the 1.005 search results, 13 reviews were included in the final analysis. Their methodological quality was assessed by using an adapted version of the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) Checklist for systematic reviews with meta-analysis of observational studies. The synthesis of the reviews` findings does not allow for any firm conclusions to be made about elite sport`s impact on voluntary work, while a large number of research studies in relation to physical activity and sport, especially in the context of major sport events, can be observed. However, regardless of the conceptual understanding of physical activity or sport, there is only limited evidence for an inherent demonstration effect on various dimensions of participation in physical activity and sport, suggesting that any potential impact of elite sport needs to be leveraged by other supporting activities. Besides highlighting existing findings on relevant success and failure conditions, this umbrella review also elaborates on the significant research gaps that need to be explored in future studies to stimulate a more differentiated and candid debate regarding the role of elite sport for the general participation in physical activity and sport.
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